McKINNEY - The City of McKinney is getting ready to start a massive $34.5 million aquatic and fitness center that will make the city more marketable to incoming residents to the region.

The three-story, 80,000-sf facility will include a gymnasium, fitness areas, sports courts with an elevated track, child care area, classrooms an indoor 25-meter competition pool, indoor leisure pool and outdoor leisure pool. In all, the surface water of the pools will total 10,000 sf.

The project is slated to begin at Gabe Nesbitt Community Park at 3003 Alma Rd. on July 27, 2015. Officials expect construction to be complete by the end of December 2016.

The development is being paid for with funds pooled together by McKinney Community Development Corp. (MCDC) and the City of McKinney.